FDA Updates Standard of Identity for Pasteurized Orange Juice

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule amending the standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice. The rule lowers the minimum soluble solids content requirement from 10.5° Brix to 10° Brix and permits the inclusion of up to 15% Citrus reticulata (mandarin/tangerine) juice or Citrus reticulata hybrid juice by volume in pasteurized orange juice. The amendment is intended to modernize the standard of identity and reflects industry requests submitted through citizen petitions from the Florida citrus sector and juice industry stakeholders. a)Minimum soluble solids content reduced from 10.5° Brix to 10° Brix. b)Up to 15% Citrus reticulata juice or Citrus reticulata hybrid juice may be included by volume. c)Applies to the FDA standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice.